The accidental feminist : the life of one woman through war, motherhood, and international photojournalism

This is the story of an independent woman who is a model for our time—photographer Toby Molenaar. It begins in Holland during World War II, when her country is decimated by the occupying German army and she is literally left to starve. As a little girl, she learns to be self-sufficient—survival is the order of the day.After the war, she finds love in Switzerland, marries, and starts a family. Her perfect life soon unravels however, when she meets the irresistible writer Fred Grunfeld, a foreign correspondent for __Time__, __Life__, and other magazines, and the new couple settles in Mallorca. Fred takes her along on his travels covering the world for various publications, from Alaska to Argentina, India, and China. Reinventing herself yet again, Toby learns her new trade as a photographer and becomes an eminent photojournalist.When Husband Number Two leaves and her life in Mallorca evaporates, she is ready to carry on, taking on her own international... This is the story of an independent woman who is a model for our time—photographer Toby Molenaar. It begins in Holland during World War II, when her country is decimated by the occupying German army and she is literally left to starve. As a little girl, she learns to be self-sufficient—survival is the order of the day. After the war, she finds love in Switzerland, marries, and starts a family. Her perfect life soon unravels however, when she meets the irresistible writer Fred Grunfeld, a foreign correspondent for Time , Life , and other magazines, and the new couple settles in Mallorca. Fred takes her along on his travels covering the world for various publications, from Alaska to Argentina, India, and China. Reinventing herself yet again, Toby learns her new trade as a photographer and becomes an eminent photojournalist. When Husband Number Two leaves and her life in Mallorca evaporates, she is ready to carry on, taking on her own international assignments—until Husband Number Three enters the picture, in France, and a new child is born. Courage, indomitable spirit, an open mind, and accountability only to herself are the stuff of this fascinating and inspirational story. Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home. Explore the world through the eyes of a female photojournalist in this “always absorbing” memoir—includes photos! (Publishers Weekly) The story of a survivor, an explorer, and a truly independent spirit, Toby Molenaar’s extraordinary life is an inspiring tale to be savored. Orphaned in Holland during World War II, her first lesson was survival, and the life she led is a tribute to her fierce determination. Marrying in Switzerland after the war, the author’s family life crumbles a few years later when she meets her second husband, Fred Grunfeld, a foreign correspondent for such publications as Time and Life. Accompanying her husband on his foreign assignments, Molenaar visits such far-flung destinations as South America, Asia, and Alaska. She soon becomes a photojournalist herself, and when her second marriage also fails, she accepts international assignments of her own. But Molenaar’s romantic fate will include yet another chapter, and another child, this time in France. Here, she invites readers into her life through the ravages of war, the joy of motherhood, and a career documenting the world. Rich with travel details and the author’s reflections on artistic expression and the role of the mother, “at the book’s core is Molenaar’s curiosity and learning about this wide world” (Publishers Weekly). This is the story of an independent woman who is a model for our time photographer Toby Molenaar. It begins in Holland during World War II, when her country is decimated by the occupying German army and she is literally left to starve. As a little girl, she learns to be self-sufficient survival is the order of the day. After the war, she finds love in Switzerland, marries, and starts a family. Her perfect life soon unravels however, when she meets the irresistible writer Fred Grunfeld, a foreign correspondent for Time, Life, and other magazines, and the new couple settles in Mallorca. Fred takes her along on his travels covering the world for various publications, from Alaska to Argentina, India, and China. Reinventing herself yet again, Toby learns her new trade as a photographer and becomes an eminent photojournalist. When Husband Number Two leaves and her life in Mallorca evaporates, she is ready to carry on, taking on her own international assignments until Husband Number Three enters the picture, in France, and a new child is born. Courage, indomitable spirit, an open mind, and accountability only to herself are the stuff of this fascinating and inspirational story